Free The Burning Horizon by Erin Hunter Page A

air after she ran from the mules. Her trail ended by the BlackPath, where there were marks from a firebeast’s paws.”
    â€œI’m really sorry you lost her,” Enola continued. “I’ll keep an eye out and let you know if I see her.”
    â€œThanks, but we probably won’t stay around for much longer,” Toklo told her. “We’re on our way to Great Bear Lake, for the Longest Day Gathering.”
    Enola’s eyes were bright with interest. “I’ve heard about that,” she said, “but I’ve never been. It’s too far to go alone,” she added regretfully. For a moment, she sounded very lonely and young, but cheered up almost immediately. “Is that where you met Lusa? At Great Bear Lake?” she asked.
    Toklo shook his head. “No, Lusa met up with me and . . . another friend, long before that,” he told Enola. “I met Kallik at Great Bear Lake—that’s the white she-bear,” he finished with a glance at Kallik and Yakone, who were still waiting a few bearlengths away.
    Once more Enola let herself down to a lower branch, looking much more confident now. “You’re lucky to have traveled so far,” she said.
    â€œOh, our journey took us much farther than that,” Toklo responded, beginning to feel friendly toward the eager young she-bear, who reminded him so strongly of Lusa. “We traveled right up to the Endless Ice and saw the spirits dancing in the sky.”
    Enola’s eyes widened, and she let out a wistful sigh. “That must have been wonderful! I wish I could come along with you to Great Bear Lake,” she added, giving Toklo a speculative look. “I know all the places where black bears might hide!”
    For a moment Toklo was tempted to invite her to travel with them. But then he glanced back toward Kallik and Yakone, thinking how far they had come together, and how close they were to the end of their journey. I can’t take the risk of having a young, inexperienced bear joining us now.
    Toklo remembered Chenoa, too, the other black she-bearwho had shared their journey for a while.
    Chenoa died when she was swept over the waterfall. If we hadn’t taken her with us, she might still be alive.
    A shiver ran through Toklo as he realized afresh that now he had lost Lusa, too. “Thanks for the offer,” he said to Enola. “But we need to finish our journey alone.”
    â€œOkay.” Enola was visibly struggling with disappointment. “Maybe I’ll get to the lake one day.”
    â€œI hope so,” Toklo said, feeling sorry for her, but knowing he had made the right decision. This is Enola’s home. Not all bears need to travel forever to find a place to live.
    â€œAnd I’ll look out for your friend,” Enola added. “If I see her, I’ll tell her which way you went.”
    â€œThank you,” Toklo said. “Good-bye, and may the spirits be with you.”
    â€œGood-bye,” Enola responded. “I hope you find Lusa.”
    Toklo rejoined Kallik and Yakone, who pressed up to him eagerly.
    â€œWhat did she say?” Kallik asked. “Has she seen Lusa?”
    â€œNo,” Toklo replied, feeling disappointed all over again as he saw the hope die from his friends’ faces. “But she said she’d keep an eye out for her.”
    â€œThat doesn’t help us much,” Yakone grunted. “What were you talking about for so long?”
    â€œShe wanted to come to Great Bear Lake with us. But I didn’t think it would be a good idea.”
    â€œYou were right,” Kallik said. “We can’t take care of her and look for Lusa.”
    As the three of them padded away together, Toklo was aware of Enola watching him from her tree, but when he glanced back over his shoulder, her small black shape was already out of sight among the branches. He felt a moment’s regret, followed by a fiercer